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Skills and my confusion

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
lachlanceallach
Jun 12, 2008 12:50:41 Hey all,

I don't think I'm reading the PHB correctly. It appears that each character gets all the skills--they are just better (+5) at the ones they are trained in. This can't be right. Is it?

In advance, thank you for your help.
#2
illyannafarseer
Jun 12, 2008 13:17:44 you are correct.

You get X number of skills that you are trained in.

Training gives you a +5 bonus.

So you get 1/2 your level, + ability mod, +misc mods, +training to determin your bonus.

Say you have trained in Athletics and have a +4 bonus to strenght.

then at 1st level you would have

0 for level (1 divided by 2 is .5 round down to 0), +4 for strength and then +5 for training giving you a +9 bonus. (which is about the same you could get for maxing your ranks in climb in 3.5..you just get to apply the 9 to more *skills* than you would in 3.5).

:D
#3
Shiftkitty
Jun 12, 2008 14:41:14 I like the skill system. It gives you a chance at a lucky shot for skills that previously couldn't be used without training. Even in the RW, I, who had never picked a lock before, was able to jimmy a lock open (high school prank on a really cool teacher) without knowing step one about what I was doing.

I wouldn't be so generous with average townsfolk. Medieval people had to have a wider number of skills and whatnot because of the lack of specialists as we know them today in the RW, but I think the current skill list reflects that adventurers are generally more clever than the average person.
#4
Richmud
Jun 12, 2008 16:02:19 There are also still a few things you can't do untrained. For instance only someone trained in arcana can use it to detect magic, and only someone trained in acrobatics can use it to reduce falling damage
#5
t3hb4k4
Jun 12, 2008 16:06:53
Hey all,

I don't think I'm reading the PHB correctly. It appears that each character gets all the skills--they are just better (+5) at the ones they are trained in. This can't be right. Is it?

In advance, thank you for your help.

I don't believe this is entirely true. Each class gets X trained skills picked from a specific list of class skills. You can pick up training in other skills using a feat (I believe it's called Skill Training or some such). Training in a skill provides a +5 bonus to that skill's checks. Class skills are listed as part of the little box of class stats in the PHB (same place proficiencies and hit points etc are placed for each class)
#6
Neutronium_Dragon
Jun 16, 2008 18:46:48 There are other means to improve your performance with skills. Training, the level-based bonus, and ability score increases have been covered above, but the Skill Focus feat will grant you an additional +3 to the use of one skill.

In addition to that you can also benefit from abilities or feats which alter the way the skill works or is rolled. An example that I posted in another thread is the Agile Athlete paragon-tier feat, which allows you to roll twice and use the higher result whenever you use either the Athletics or Acrobatics skill. This improves your chances of success without actually shifting the range of the rolls.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 lachlanceallach Jun 12, 2008 12:50:41	Hey all, I don't think I'm reading the PHB correctly. It appears that each character gets all the skills--they are just better (+5) at the ones they are trained in. This can't be right. Is it? In advance, thank you for your help.
#2 illyannafarseer Jun 12, 2008 13:17:44	you are correct. You get X number of skills that you are trained in. Training gives you a +5 bonus. So you get 1/2 your level, + ability mod, +misc mods, +training to determin your bonus. Say you have trained in Athletics and have a +4 bonus to strenght. then at 1st level you would have 0 for level (1 divided by 2 is .5 round down to 0), +4 for strength and then +5 for training giving you a +9 bonus. (which is about the same you could get for maxing your ranks in climb in 3.5..you just get to apply the 9 to more skills than you would in 3.5). :D
#3 Shiftkitty Jun 12, 2008 14:41:14	I like the skill system. It gives you a chance at a lucky shot for skills that previously couldn't be used without training. Even in the RW, I, who had never picked a lock before, was able to jimmy a lock open (high school prank on a really cool teacher) without knowing step one about what I was doing. I wouldn't be so generous with average townsfolk. Medieval people had to have a wider number of skills and whatnot because of the lack of specialists as we know them today in the RW, but I think the current skill list reflects that adventurers are generally more clever than the average person.
#4 Richmud Jun 12, 2008 16:02:19	There are also still a few things you can't do untrained. For instance only someone trained in arcana can use it to detect magic, and only someone trained in acrobatics can use it to reduce falling damage
#5 t3hb4k4 Jun 12, 2008 16:06:53	Hey all, I don't think I'm reading the PHB correctly. It appears that each character gets all the skills--they are just better (+5) at the ones they are trained in. This can't be right. Is it? In advance, thank you for your help. I don't believe this is entirely true. Each class gets X trained skills picked from a specific list of class skills. You can pick up training in other skills using a feat (I believe it's called Skill Training or some such). Training in a skill provides a +5 bonus to that skill's checks. Class skills are listed as part of the little box of class stats in the PHB (same place proficiencies and hit points etc are placed for each class)
#6 Neutronium_Dragon Jun 16, 2008 18:46:48	There are other means to improve your performance with skills. Training, the level-based bonus, and ability score increases have been covered above, but the Skill Focus feat will grant you an additional +3 to the use of one skill. In addition to that you can also benefit from abilities or feats which alter the way the skill works or is rolled. An example that I posted in another thread is the Agile Athlete paragon-tier feat, which allows you to roll twice and use the higher result whenever you use either the Athletics or Acrobatics skill. This improves your chances of success without actually shifting the range of the rolls.